INDIANAPOLIS—Today kicks off National Public Health Week (NPHW) in America, the 19th annual observance where the world of public health highlights issues that are important to improving the health of Indiana and the nation. Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of families and communities through promotion of healthy lifestyles, research for disease and injury prevention and detection and control of infectious diseases.

This year’s National Public Health Week theme is, “Public Health: Start Here.” Each day from April 7-11 will focus on a specific topic to raise awareness of public health and prevention.

·Monday, April 7: Be healthy from the start. From maternal health and school nutrition to emergency preparedness, public health starts at home.

·Wednesday, April 9: Get out ahead. Prevention is now a nationwide priority.

·Thursday, April 10: Eat well. The system that keeps our nation's food safe and healthy is complex.

·Friday, April 11: Be the healthiest nation in one generation. Best practices for community health come from around the globe.

“Public health is everywhere you look,” said State Health Commissioner William VanNess, M.D. “It’s the force behind the clean water we drink, the immunizations we get and the seatbelts in our vehicles. National Public Health Week provides a great opportunity to help Hoosiers better understand the public health system and its value.”

Public health professionals work federal, state and local level. They try to prevent problems from happening or recurring through implementing educational prgrams, recommending policies, administering services and conducting research--in contrast to clinical professionals like doctors and nurses, who focus primarily on treating individuals after they become sick or injured. Public health also works to limit health disparities.

The mission of the Indiana State Department of Health is to promote and provide essential public health services toward a healthier and safer Indiana. As such, the agency has identified three key priority initiatives for 2014: reduce infant mortality, reduce adult obesity and reduce adult tobacco use.

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